Fall Brackets 2020: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Edition: Round 1b, 2013 vs. 2017

As you know, I am not in Kentucky for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival this week as I would have ordinarily been. This means that there was no real way for me to get a bottle of 2020’s Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch. To console myself, I’ve gone ahead and put the last eight year’s releases up against one another Bracket Style. Tonight’s matchup features 2013’s 125th Anniversary release and the 2017 release.

Fun fact, the last time I wasn’t in Kentucky during September was 2013. I spent the time in Toronto meeting whiskey friends. I got a bottle thanks to another whiskey friend who happened to see it on the shelf at his local store, but am tasting out of the sample bottles that I put away in my Sample Library.

2017 happened to be the first time I worked as “Press” at events during BourbonFest. I got free passes, talked to some folks, made some notes, and wrote about them after I got home. It was also the first year that a reader recognized me on the streets of Bardstown and asked if they could get a photo with me. It was all very weird but very flattering.

So here we go. Remember these were tasted completely blind from identical bottles labeled only with an alphanumeric code.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2013

Original Review: 2013 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Review

Pertinent Quote: “I’ve heard people describe it as the best bourbon they’ve ever had, but that’s probably pushing it a bit. I’ll go ahead and say that, for me, it’s not even the best Four Roses I’ve had. I would rank both the 2012 Limited Small Batch and the 2009 Mariage higher (which were basically equally good in my book). 2013 was a bit too thick and sweet and the flavors a bit more muddied when compared to the 2012. But that’s splitting hairs. I can see why this was chosen to be the American Whiskey of the Year last year, it’s an amazing whiskey. It’s just not the best ever.”

Details/Original Price: A blend of 18-year-old OBSV, 13-year-old OBSK, and 13-year-old OESK. Purchase Price: $99.

Nose: Raspberry preserves, oak, vanilla.

Mouth: Oak, raspberry preserves, Juicy Fruit gum, baking spice

Finish: Medium length. Lingering Wintergreen, raspberry preserves, oak, and cinnamon.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2017

Original Review: 2017 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Review

Pertinent Quote: “I know what you are thinking. "Obviously Eric loves this, he's a Four Roses fanboy." Well, you are half right. I am a fanboy. But this doesn't rate a heart from me (my wife disagrees most vehemently). It does, however, rate a very high "like." It's thick and rich and the finish lasts for days.”

Original Details/Price: 54% ABV. A blend of 20% 15-year-old OESK, 40% 13-year-old OESK, and 12-year-old OESV bourbons. MSRP: $130.

Nose: Juicy Fruit Gum, Orange Creamsicle, caramel, vanilla, baking spice, and a hint of oak.

Mouth: Fruity, creamy, and spicy. Cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, vanilla, red fruits, and oak.

Finish: Medium to long and warm. Cinnamon, vanilla, oak, and orange Creamsicle.

Thoughts:

This is a hard one. Both of these are fruit-forward. The obvious difference is that one reminds me of rich, cooked raspberries while the other is bright and refreshing in its fruit presentation. I really like both of these and I could see either one winning in a different matchup. But I'm giving 2017 the nod.

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Thanks to Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliot for inspiring this series of posts.

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Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

Fall Brackets 2020: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Edition: Round 1a, 2018 vs 2015

This is the first September since 2013 that I haven’t had a vacation to Kentucky to look forward to. And, for that reason, it is also the first year since 2013 that I have no shot of getting a bottle of Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch. I mean, I’m in the drawing like everyone else, but I know how I usually fare in drawings of that sort. Here’s a hint: not well.

Back in 2013, I had a lucky break when a friend in Las Vegas was able to find a bottle for me. This was back when, in some areas, you could still find it on the store shelves now and then. This year, I’ll have to be happy with the taste I got when they sent me a sample. Oh, and the seven unopened bottles that I’ve saved from years past.

Which brings me to this little bracket I’ve decided to throw together. It all started last year when I was talking to Brent Elliot at the breakfast that Four Roses usually holds the Friday of BourbonFest. I’m not intentionally name dropping here, just giving credit where due. In a way, this series of posts is all his fault. See we were discussing what I thought of the 2019 Small Batch release when it came up that I had a bottle of almost every edition back to 2012 and that I had gotten most of them at that very event.

His very good question was: “What are you saving them for?” Well, I didn’t have a good answer for that. I had this vague idea that I wanted to be able to open them up all at once and share the experience with friends. But I didn’t have any firm idea for what to do with them. So I decided that at some point in 2020, I was going to gather a few like minded-friends to give them all a taste. Yeah…so much for that. 2020 kinda put the kibosh on that thought, but I was inspired to open them all up anyway as a way to “console myself” for not getting a bottle this year. And since they are open anyway why not see which one is the best?

These were tasted blind. In order to remove any preconceived notions, I poured samples of each into 100mL bottle bottles that were only labeled with a 10 digit alphanumeric code. I then shuffled them around as best as possible, seeded them, and then waited a week so that I would no longer even have a hint of what year went with what code. Over the course of a week, we tasted all the way through to the winner before we revealed what bourbon went with what code.

I was determined to make this into an event for ourselves. And now I’ve decided to share the results with you over the course of the next month. (Don’t worry, if you find a challenge between bourbons that you are unlikely to have to be boring, I am not running all the posts consecutively.)

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2018

Original Review: 2018 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Review

Pertinent Quote: “This is a hot and spicy beast of a dram. It is hot. The caramel is at the forefront, and the spice will bite you if you aren't prepared for it. The fruit is still there, but this year it plays more in the ripe, juicy peaches and cherry range. This is not a "mellow" bourbon.”

Details/Original Price: A blend of 10-year-old OBSV, a 13-year-old OBSF, a 14-year-old OESV, and 16-year-old OESK. 54.2% ABV. $140 MSRP.

Nose: Caramel, nutmeg, vanilla, and almond.

Mouth: Caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, red fruits, and oak.

Finish: Sweet and spicy. Medium length. Cinnamon, oak, and almond.

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2015

Original Review: 2015 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Review

Pertinent Quote: “Oh. My. God! I hesitate to say this for fear of fanning the fervor, but this might be my favorite Limited Small Batch yet. This is Mr. Rutledge’s last outing on this and he has outdone himself. Standing ovation on this one. Amazing!”

Original Details/Price: A mix of 16-year-old OBSK, 15-year-old OESK, 14-year-old OESK and 11-year-old OBSV. 54.3% ABV. $120 MSRP.

Nose: Very rich. This smells like a baking cinnamon roll. Bready, sweet brown sugar and cinnamon.

Mouth: Bright and floral. Cinnamon, cherry, brown sugar, and oak.

Finish: Medium to long. Oak, oak, oak. Brown sugar

Thoughts:

2015 is my clear winner in this matchup. The nose is amazing. Extremely rich. The bright floral mouth is a pleasant addition. 2018 is also very good, obviously. It just isn't as complex as 2015. The Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2015 moves to round 2.

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Thanks to Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliot for inspiring this series of posts.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

The BourbonGuy.com "Stuck at Home" Bourbon Brackets: The Championship!

I am so excited for tonight! For two reasons honestly. One is that there are actual sports stuff happening tonight! Like sports stuff that is live and not a replay of an old game that basically only serves to remind us how poorly sports graphics age. And sure, I couldn’t give two shits about the NFL. But I love college football and so the NFL Draft is always a fun way to see kids that I’ve followed for years finally see their dreams come true. I watch it every year. And for the most part it is the last time that I will pay attention to most of these kids. It’s kind of a good bye in that respect. Plus on the years that my Gophers have players that will be drafted, I like to see where they go.

But the other reason is the more pertinent to tonight’s post. I finally get to spill the beans on who wins! This was such a fun contest and I wish that every one of you had been able to play along with me. So let’s get down to it.

And as always, the following Bourbons were tasted blind at the same time. There may be odd or inconsistent tasting notes between these contests and other reviews because of how they pair/interact with one another.

Four Roses Single Barrel vs. Maker’s Mark 101 proof

Nose: Both of these have a really nice nose. They are pretty similar. Notes of toffee, caramel, brown sugar, oak and hints of fruit.

Mouth: Both of these show a lot of similarities. Lots of "bourbon" notes of toffee, caramel, brown sugar, baking spices. Whiskey 2 has a strong note of red fruit, whereas Whiskey 1 is more floral.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: These are both delicious. As you might guess since we are reaching the last few matchups, the competition has gotten tighter. So much so that my wife and I have picked different winners. She picked Whiskey 2 as her winner and I picked Whiskey 1. Believe it or not, this is our first split decision. Things could get could get interesting later on.

Reveal: Whiskey 1 was Four Roses Single Barrel and will be moving on tot he Championship in my bracket. Whiskey 2 was Maker’s Mark 101 proof and will be moving on in my wife’s bracket.

Four Roses Small Batch Select vs. Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond

Nose: Whiskey 1 is showing more oak, cherries and vanilla. Whiskey 2 is basically a sugar cookie with floral notes.

Mouth: The mouths follow the noses fairly well in both of these. Whiskey 1 features cherries and baking Spice. Whiskey 2 features sweet caramel, vanilla and floral notes.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Once again, these are both very good, and I wouldn't turn down a glass of either. But in this case whiskey 2 rolls to an easy win with both of us.

Reveal: Whiskey 1 was Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond. But our winner was Whiskey 2, Four Roses Small Batch Select.

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So here is where my bracket stands right now (for my wife’s swap Makers and Four Roses Single Barrel). I have a matchup of Four Roses heavy-weights on my hand. Will the new kid on the block knock off the old favorite? And remember, when you read these, I didn’t know yet what I was tasting. All of these were done blind after the first post of the series.

Four Roses Single Barrel vs. Four Roses Small Batch Select

Nose: These are very similar. Both of them have a lot of brown sugar and vanilla.

Mouth: Whiskey 2 shows sweet honey and baking spice. Whiskey 1 is more brown sugar and baking spice.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: The difference here is slight. Basically the difference between honey and brown sugar. And for me, I prefer honey. Whiskey 2 wins my bracket.

Reveal: To say I was shocked at this outcome is an understatement. I could have guessed that, just based on my preferences, that Four Roses would be a favorite to make the finals. But I would have never guessed that both of them would. And I tell you, as a guy who makes grand pronouncements about what I like and don’t like, I was relieved to find out that Whiskey 2, Four Roses Single Barrel was the one I preferred. Just like I said back in my Small Batch Select review.

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So there we go, right? No, not really. Much like college football of old, we have dual champions as each awarding agency has chosen their own.

Maker’s Mark 101 proof vs. Four Roses Small Batch Select

Pre-Reveal Thoughts: My wife says that whiskey 2 shows more of the classic “Bourbon” notes that she loves in bourbon. Vanilla, caramel, spice. And that the heat of whiskey 2 is nicer as well. So for her champion she chooses Whiskey 2.

Reveal: Whiskey 2 for this matchup was Four Roses Small Batch Select.

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So what did we learn from this experience? Well, I learned that even against top competition, Four Roses is a favorite in this house. I mean, as I said above. I was shocked to learn that both of the Four Roses bourbons made it to my finals.

I also learned that while my wife and I have a very similar palate, they aren’t the same. Which is nice since that means that sometimes we each get a bottle to ourselves as we choose to “leave it” for the other to drink since they enjoy it that much more. Most of the time it is me leaving wheated bourbons for her as she really likes them. I get about one glass of any Weller that comes into the house. She just likes it that much more than I do so I let her have it. So it wasn’t too surprising to see that the only wheated bourbon in the competition made it to the Championship in her bracket.

I hope you guys had as much fun reading along with this as I did doing it. And once again, I’d like to give a shout out to reader David Brown for the financial donation that made me get off my butt and get the ball rolling on this and covered a majority of the cost of the bottles that I didn’t already have in my closet. Thanks David!

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

The BourbonGuy.com "Stuck at Home" Bourbon Brackets: Maker's Mark 101 Proof vs. Very Old Barton 100 Proof & Heaven Hill 6 year Bonded vs. Four Roses Single Barrel

Just a couple of observations before we get into the competition tonight. First, I have been having a lot more food from restaurants during our shared time apart than I ever did previously. I almost never went out to eat, I seldom had delivery and never did take-out. And this isn’t for a reason that was immediately apparent to me. I mean, yes I do want to support local businesses. And that is how it started. But I think the reason is mostly that I used to run to the grocery store if I decided at the last minute that I no longer wanted what I had planned to have for supper. Now, I really don’t want to do that so I have food brought to me. Which is kind of a win-win. The restaurants get an increase in business during a trying time and I don’t expose myself needlessly.

My second observation really is a product of the first. It is really important for me to put on jeans now and then. Not because I particularly like jeans, but because they provide a better barometer of whether or not I’ve been having too much take out. I mean the pajama pants I’ve been wearing around the house for the last month are super comfortable. However they really kinda expand with you as the number of orders of fried chicken, pizza, etc begin to replace the grilled chicken, fish or rice that would normally be on the menu.

But, let’s stop talking about the food that is making my jeans tight and start talking about the booze that is making my jeans tight. Specifically tonight’s contestants.

And as always, the following Bourbons were tasted blind at the same time. There may be odd or inconsistent tasting notes between these contests and other reviews because of how they pair/interact with one another.

Maker’s Mark 101 proof vs. Very Old Barton 100 proof

Whiskey 1 (Maker’s Mark 101)

Nose: Sweet toffee, vanilla, fruit, delicate floral notes, and dusty oak.

Mouth: Starts sweet with caramel. Moves to spicy ginger, mint and cedar as it stays in the mouth.

Finish: Medium to long with a nice spice. Ripe fruit, cedar, and baking spice.

Whiskey 2 (Very Old Barton 100)

Nose: Old dusty lumber, sugar cookies, almond.

Mouth: Hot and spicy (capsaicin spice not baking). Dry with almond and baking spice.

Finish: Medium and warm with lingering notes of dusty wood, buttercream frosting and baking spice.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts:

These are both good. But #1 has a nicer nose. Both are tasty in the mouth, but #1 has a really nice finish.

Reveal: It should be no surprise that Maker’s 101, one of the most expensive bourbons in the competition, beats Very Old Barton 100, the least expensive. But even so, I will still probably be bringing more Very Old Barton 100 than Maker’s 101 home with me from my next Kentucky trip. Maker’s Mark 101 proof advances and moves into the Finals.

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Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond (6 Year) vs. Four Roses Single Barrel

Whiskey 1 (Heaven Hill Bonded)

Nose: Toffee, dried grain, mint, caramel

Mouth: Sweet and spicy. Caramel, mint, dried grain, baking spice

Finish: Medium length and warm. Black tea, cinnamon, nutmeg

Whiskey 2 (Four Roses Singel Barrel)

Nose: Black tea, cinnamon red hots, nutmeg

Mouth: Black tea, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, citrus

Finish: Medium length and warm. Black tea (with lemon), caramel, baking spice.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts:

These are both delicious. It was hard to choose between them. Ultimately it just came down to preference and, boy, that tannic black tea note was too good to pass up.

Reveal: It is not a surprise that Four Roses took this round. As commenter ZX said in the last post: “I have a deep and abiding love for HH OSB BiB, but it's a standard bourbon made from not overly selective batching. And when FR SB is on, it's ON.” That sums it up on this one. Both were good, but Four Roses Single Barrel was just better. And it advances to the Finals because of it.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

The BourbonGuy.com "Stuck at Home" Bourbon Brackets: Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Knob Creek & Henry McKenna Bonded vs 1792 Bonded

It has been a super weird week. On Saturday I was on the deck having drinks in a t-shirt. Sunday and Monday it snowed almost half a foot. And now today, everything has melted and you could be back out there in a light jacket since it is about 45°F or so. But it wasn’t only the weather that has led this to be a bit weird. Monday morning we had a freezer scare since it was so overloaded that the door popped back open after we left the room (luckily we didn’t lose much). Tuesday our washing machine broke, filled with water and overflowed even though it was not on. And yesterday I fixed said washing machine after the new part arrived. As I said, it’s been a weird week.

I also ventured out of the house for basically the first time since our lockdown (I’ve gone on walks with our pups). Man. Folks at my local ACE Hardware do not give a shit about social distancing. No masks or gloves for the employees. To pay you need to stand on either side of a counter that’s only a foot and a half wide. And the employees sidle right up next to you to ask if you need help. It took all I had to not answer with “Yeah, you can get your ass 6 feet back outta my face!” If I get this damn thing, I’m blaming my local ACE Hardware.

Anyway, that’s not why you’re here. You want to know what happens in Round Two of the “Stuck/Stay at Home” Brackets.

Four Roses Small Batch Select vs Knob Creek Bourbon

Whiskey 1 (Knob Creek)

Nose: Mint, caramel, wintergreen, brown sugar cinnamon candies

Mouth: Mint, cinnamon candies, caramel, hints of vanilla

Finish: Medium length, notes of cinnamon and dried grains

Whiskey 2 (Four Roses Small Batch Select)

Nose: Anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, vanilla

Mouth: Follows the nose with anise, cinnamon, mint, caramel, and vanilla

Finish: Medium length. Notes of anise, cinnamon, mint, and vanilla.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts:

Whiskey # 2 is the clear winner here. #1 is good and I could see it winning against other competition but the rich and layered spiciness of #2 is too much.

Reveal: Based on price alone, this should have come as no surprise. Whiskey 2 cost me twice as much as Whiskey 1. But as price and quality are only kinda connected in the whiskey world, we still needed to do the tasting. But in this case, the more expensive whiskey won. No upset: Number 1 Seed Four Roses Small Batch Select advances to the Finals over Number 5 seed Knob Creek.

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Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond vs 1792 Bottled in Bond (store selection)

Whiskey 1 (1792 Bottled in Bond, South Lyndale Liquors selection)

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, cherry, nutmeg

Mouth: Nutmeg, caramel, vanilla

Finish: Medium length and warm. Dusty oak and caramel.

Whiskey 2 (Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond)

Nose: Vanilla sugar, cinnamon, mint, tropical fruit

Mouth: Vanilla, cinnamon, mint

Finish: Medium length and warm. There is a "pop" of fruit, tannic oak, and baking spice.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts:

Kind of a boring matchup compared to the others. These are both right along the lines of your stereotypical "bourbon" notes with very little variance from that baseline. That said, I'm enjoying #2 just a little more so #2 wins.

Reveal: Though I would happily take a glass of either of these, it looks like we have our first upset of the second round. It is only an upset because of where I bought this particular bottle, though. Most of the stores that I frequent sell Henry McKenna for over $40, but Total Wine offers it for just over $30, though they don’t have it very often. And since I bought it at that $30-ish price point, Henry McKenna got the #3 seed while the bourbon that it beat cost over $40, sat at #2 and got a first-round bye. Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond wins and advances to the Finals over a local store selection of 1792 Bottled in Bond.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

The BourbonGuy.com "Stuck at Home" Bourbon Brackets: Four Roses Single Barrel vs Wild Turkey 101 & Henry McKenna Bonded vs JW Dant Bonded

You know. I’ve been doing bracket type competitions for a long time. This is the eighth contest in seven years. You wouldn’t have thought that it would take a comment on the last post to make me realize that I could do all these rounds at once and have a completely blind competition. But it did. I started these as a way to try cheap bourbons that I hadn’t had before so I really didn’t have any preconceived notions about any of them. As I’ve included more and more bourbons that I’d had before, I guess it never dawned on me to change the way I run these.

Until now. Starting with the competitors in this post, this is not just a blind matchup of two known bourbons but is instead a completely blind competition. So what changes got made? Well, the main one was instituting another layer of blindness to the competition.

• I poured 200mL of each contestant into a sample bottle. I labeled each sample bottle with a 10 digit random code. (10 digits so it was just a garbage thing that my brain wouldn’t try to remember on the off chance I saw the bottle)

• I made a bracket that just had codes on it for my wife (she doesn’t pay attention to the brackets as we do this, she just tastes what is put in front of her). This way she knew which codes go against each other, but not what those codes represent.

• She then takes that bracket and chooses any of the contests that are available and pours us each a 1-ounce sample of each contestant. She places those samples on our tasting pads and leaves the room after recording in a notebook what code was placed on which letter.

• The tasting pads have four circles on them, labeled 1, 2, A, and B respectively. After she leaves the room, I choose whether to move number 1 to letter A or letter B (and then the other goes to remaining circle) and make a note of which bourbon I moved to which circle.

• She then reenters and if all has gone as planned neither of us knows what is in our glass beyond narrowing it down to one of the 10 remaining bourbons in the contest.

• Then over the course of Friday night through Monday night, we tasted the rest of the competition and … well, let’s just say we were amazed at some of the results when we had zero preconceived notions.

Now let’s get to it.

Wild Turkey 101 vs. Four Roses Single Barrel

Whiskey 1 (Wild Turkey)

Nose: Mint, Big Red cinnamon gum, vanilla, caramel, almond

Mouth: Warm and spicy. Notes of mint, dried grains, and oak

Finish: On the longer side of medium and warm. Dusty grains and vanilla

Whiskey 2 (Four Roses)

Nose: Nutmeg, cinnamon, raisin, and a slight antiseptic note.

Mouth: Spicy with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, leather, mint and dried fruit

Finish: Medium length and sweet. Notes of dark chocolate, ripe fruit, brown sugar, and baking spice

Pre-Reveal Thoughts:

If we had chosen based just on the nose, # 1 would have been a clear winner. As a whole though, #2 is much more complex and enjoyable. I'd take a glass of either though. # 2 wins.

Reveal: So there goes the King of the Bottom-Shelf Brackets. Its first crack at the more expensive competition and DOWN GOES TURKEY! Four Roses Single Barrel advances.

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Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond vs. JW Dant Bottled in Bond

Whiskey 1 (McKenna)

Nose: Cinnamon, mint, lots of oak

Mouth: Caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, oak

Finish: Medium with lasting warmth. Dusty oak, ripe red fruits, and baking spice.

Whiskey 2 (Dant)

Nose: Caramel corn, cinnamon

Mouth: Butterscotch, cinnamon, dried grains, vanilla, caramel

Finish: Medium and warm. Lingering Butterscotch and dried grains.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts:

Not to knock #2, but #1 is just so much better. #2 is just sweet and heat. Nice in a glass when watching tv or to sip before bed. But #1 is much more complex and interesting. #1 wins.

Reveal: Well, I guess this shouldn’t be a surprise, Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond is more than twice the age and over twice the price. It should have won. And it did Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond advances.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

The BourbonGuy.com "Stuck at Home" Bourbon Brackets: Round 1, Knob Creek vs. Johnny Drum and Old Forester vs. Very Old Barton

If you are like most Americans, you are stuck in the house right now. The novel Coronavirus has most of us living under a Stay-at-Home order. If you’re like me, this isn’t a huge change. I mean, I hardly ever leave the house anyway. Mostly what is has meant is that my wife is working from home. But she is in her office in the basement while I’m in my office upstairs. We hardly ever see each other during the day unless I am delivering her a coffee refill.

Huh, starting to sound like working from home has gained her an assistant. I wonder how much that pays…

Anyway, this is the first competition in the Stuck at Home Bourbon Brackets. The brackets created because I can’t leave the house to go whiskey shopping and I don’t want to sit on the phone asking the poor guy on the other end which of the many things I’ve never reviewed that he has on the shelf in order to place a delivery order.

First up, is our division one, number four seed Johnny Drum Private Stock versus number five seed Knob Creek.

Johnny Drum is a product of the Willett distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Long known for their prowess in sourcing barrels, they started distilling their own juice early on in the last decade. Now that their own distillate has started to come of age, they are using that in some of their brands. Not having followed up with Willett lately, I have no idea if Johnny Drum is one of those.

Knob Creek is a product of the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. It was a founding member of the Small Batch Collection and one of the first Small Batch bourbons to be advertised as such. It is supposed to regain its nine-year age statement soon, though this particular bottle doesn’t have that yet.

Johnny Drum vs. Knob Creek

Note: These were tasted blind in the following order. The tasting notes may be a bit strange as these were tasted at the same time and may have influenced one another.

Whiskey 1-Knob Creek

Nose: Oak, mint, almond, nutmeg and a hint of brown sugar.

Mouth: Dry and spicy. Nutmeg, cinnamon, mint and dried grains.

Finish: Hot and of medium length. Mint, nutmeg, oak and a hint of fruit.

Whiskey 2-Johnny Drum

Nose: Toffee, strawberry jam, and a hint of oak at the end.

Mouth: Lots of caramel and cinnamon. Ripe red fruit.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium length. Lingering Strawberry jam.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts:

This is an interesting set. Both are good but one is sweeter and fruitier and one is much drier. Usually, when we do these head to head, the sweeter one wins. But in this case, I am enjoying the spicy dryness more than the sweet strawberry jam notes. I'm picking whiskey 1 to move on.

Reveal: Whiskey 1 is #5 Knob Creek. Whiskey 2 is #4 Johnny Drum. Knob Creek wins. I get Knob Creek for $25 and Johnny Drum is almost $10 more for a 750 mL. Neither of these are terribly expensive, but it is interesting to see the lower price come out on top. Though when the lower-priced option is from the largest producer of bourbon on the planet…maybe not so surprising.

Very Old Barton 100 proof vs. Old Forester 100 proof

Note: These were tasted blind in the following order. The tasting notes may be a bit strange as these were tasted at the same time and may have influenced one another.

Whiskey 1-Very Old Barton 100 proof

Nose: Mint, cotton candy, ginger

Mouth: Warm and spicy with cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, and oak

Finish: Warm and of medium length with a pleasant oaky bitterness.

Whiskey 2-Old Forester 100 proof

Nose: Toffee, mint, Cedar, vanilla

Mouth: Thick mouthfeel. Sweet with a lot of caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, cedar

Finish: Warm and medium length with an antiseptic note of mint, caramel, and oak.

Pre-Reveal Thoughts:

The antiseptic notes on whiskey two just aren't sitting right with me today. On another day the thick and sweet mouthfeel might be enough to carry the day. But today at least, Whiskey One is tasting oh-so-good. Whiskey One advances.

Reveal: Whiskey one is Very Old Barton 100 proof. Whiskey two is Old Forester 100 proof. Very Old Barton wins. Talk about an upset! When I travel to Kentucky, Very Old Barton 100 proof is often available for less than $15. When available, it is my “drinking back at the campsite” bourbon while I stay in Kentucky. $12.99 is a whole other level of value. I put it in the brackets because I was originally basing this competition on 100 proof versions of what was in the Bottom-Shelf Brackets, but I really didn’t expect it to hang with the more expensive competition. I should have guessed that this delicious bourbon wouldn’t disappoint.

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The BourbonGuy.com "Stuck at Home" Bourbon Brackets

Wow. It seems like it has been just a moment since we last had a bracket around here. I mean time really flies, doesn't i...

What's that? Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah. Huh. Ok, well.

I've just been informed that it actually was only about a minute since I last had a bracket competition around here. Well, what am I still doing here then?

Oh, that's right. I can't leave at the moment. I, like many of you, are currently living under a Stay-at-Home order due to the pandemic. And though, the liquor stores are deemed an essential business in Minnesota, I'd rather not expose myself any more than I have too. Besides, when it comes to stocking up on liquor, I've been preparing for an extended stay at home for years now. 

To that end, I'm going to take the opportunity to address something that it seemed people were really looking for in the Bottom-Shelf Brackets. Parity. Specifically proof parity (I already had price parity). I had comments on more than one post that stated that certain bourbons were at a competitive disadvantage due to the wide range of proof levels amongst the competition. And while that would usually cause me to explain that the Bottom Shelf Brackets are a "what's best for the price" competition and not a "what's best" competition, this time, I had the thought of: "Well, I'm stuck here anyway." Especially when I realized that if proof was the deciding factor, then I could not only reuse a few of the bottles from the Bottom-Shelf Bracket but that I also had a lot of potential competitors in my bourbon closet.

And so I am pleased to announce the BourbonGuy.com "Stuck at Home" Bourbon Brackets. The qualification rules are simple: Be 100 or 101 proof. Of course, nothing is as easy as it seems. I had 10 qualifying bourbons in the house. I had the tough choice to make between eliminating a couple or adding a couple. When a reader donated $25 to the cause, I knew it had to be to add a couple. I called up my local liquor store and placed a delivery order for a bottle of bourbon. I also decided to let Four Roses Small Batch Select join the competition since it was only a few proof points higher. And once again, to keep it simple, seeding was done on price. The highest price equals the highest seed. After a few swaps to get rid of repeat matchups from last week, we are left with the following. I bracketed these via NFL playoff rules, meaning the top four seeds get a first-round bye. 

• Proving that price was no object in this competition, the number one seed overall is Four Roses Small Batch Select. I got this at Total Wine on my last Kentucky trip for $49.99. 

• Across the bracket from that is Division 2 number one seed Maker's Mark 101 proof. I got this at the Maker's Mark gift shop for $49.99. 

• Division one number two seed is a store pick of 1792 Bottled in Bond. I got this at South Lyndale Liquors in Minneapolis for $44.99. 

• The next one might be a bit controversial since it has been discontinued. I seeded it based on its replacement's current price instead of the price that I paid for it. Division two number two seed is Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 6 year. I didn't have any of the 7-year around, and honestly, when I reviewed it, I didn't find much difference between the two. You can get the 7-year, when available, for around $40

• The first seed in our "Wildcard round" is division one, 3 seed Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond. I bought this at my closest Total Wine for $33.99. This was also one of the swaps that were made to reduce repetition from last week. They are going up against division one, number six seed JW Dant Bottled in Bond, which I bought at South Lyndale for $16.99. A battle of Heaven Hill Bonded Bourbons.

• Over in division two, we have number three seed Four Roses Single Barrel ($42.99 at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake) going up against Bottom-Shelf Bracket Champion Wild Turkey 101 proof ($18.49 at Total Wine, Burnsville). Let's see how Wild Turkey does against competition where it isn't overwhelming its opponent with proof.

• The final competition in division one is number four seed Johnny Drum Private Select ($33.97 at Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake) versus Knob Creek Bourbon ($24.98 at Ace Spirits, Hopkins). 

• And finally, we have division 2 number four seed Old Forester 100 proof ($24.99 at Total Wine, Burnsville) versus Very Old Barton 100 proof (purchased for $12.99 at a Total Wine in Kentucky).

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I think this is going to be a fun competition. Once again, I'd like to thank reader David Brown for helping with the cost. It would have been a much smaller competition without his help as I would have probably made the decision to go down to eight contestants instead of going up to twelve without that support.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.